Less light. Cold temps. Hard to get out. Fewer social events.

No wonder your employees seem sluggish and unmotivated in the winter. You may notice increased absences and decreased productivity.

There’s a name for what you’re seeing: Winter blues. It’s a cute sounding name, but the syndrome is real and the effect on your bottom line isn’t a joke.

And while you can’t change the weather or the season, there are steps HR can take to bring some sunshine and enthusiasm into your office this winter. They make take some effort, but the ROI will pay for itself.

Stop! Read This Before You Go Further

Winter blues describes a set of mild symptoms that affect people’s mood and productivity during the winter. We’re going to talk about steps you can take to brighten their lives and increase their motivation.

But if your employee (or anyone else you know!) is showing true signs of depression, that may be SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder. Studies estimate that 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD, usually in January and February.

SAD symptoms are overwhelming and interfere with normal functioning:

• Extreme sadness or depressed mood
• Loss of interest in activities
• Sleeping too much
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

If you suspect that your employee suffers from SAD or any other depressive syndrome, please speak to a mental health professional for more guidance.

For run of the mill winter blues cures, keep on reading.

Self-Care, Winter Style

Weight gain is a typical winter blues symptom. Less exercise + carb cravings + low mood = more pounds. Everyone will feel better if they’re staying in shape.

Exercise doesn’t only burn calories. It’s a mood lifter in and of itself. The Guardian reports that “even a 15-minute walk in the middle of the day is enough to increase crucial neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which help energize the brain and regulate circadian rhythms.”

How can you get your employees moving?

• Organize walking or running groups during lunch break
• Host an on-site exercise class
• Offer to reimburse gym memberships for the months when it’s difficult to exercise outside

Good eating habits help, too. Stock your breakroom with healthy treats. And who won’t love “Fresh Fruit Fridays?”

Light Up Their Lives

What’s the science behind winter blues? The theory goes that the shorter daylight hours of winter cause a chemical imbalance in the brain. Add to that limited outdoor time, and most people aren’t even getting benefit from whatever daylight hours there are.

Ergo, adding more light into the day will lift your employees’ moods. Getting them outside for a walk is an obvious idea, combing exercise and more light into one activity.

But even inside, with a little attention, you can brighten the environment:

• Pull up the shades.
• Clean windows and skylights to let in maximum daylight.
• Use brighter bulbs.

Some companies install light boxes. Those are special light units used for bright light therapy to help SAD sufferers.

Rev Up Your Employees

If your employees aren’t feeling naturally inspired, give them reason to come out of hibernation. Once the holidays are over, January and February are great months to implement special programming.

Have fun!

• Team building events are always a crowd-pleaser. Consider weekly lunches or theme days to add some color to winter’s gray days. A funny “quote of the day” can start everyone off with a smile.
• For employees with a competitive edge, contests and challenges can be a huge motivator. Rewards like paid time off or a pizza party will add more incentive.
• Do you have employees looking for new challenges? Use wintertime to offer in-depth coaching or cross-training.

Fur Therapy

How about rolling fun, motivation, and better health all in one?

Studies find that pet ownership reduces stress, raises our self-esteem, gets us more active, and may even lead to healthier hearts.

So why wait for Take Your Dog to Work Week in June? Invite pets to the office now.

People who pet or play with an animal show less cortisol (the stress hormone) in their bloodstream afterward. And happier employees are more productive employees.

Employer-Employee Connection

The bottom line for all these ideas is the sense of care you give your employees. When they feel you’re watching out for them, they’ll be more motivated, loyal, and productive – even in the deep, dark winter.

So while you may implement new programs to beat the winter blues, the benefits they bring could inspire you to keep them going all year ‘round.